Zulip vs Element
A detailed comparison of Zulip and Element to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Zulip | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free (self-hosted or cloud) | ✓ Free (self-hosted or matrix.org) |
| Lowest Paid | $6.67/user/mo | $5/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Zulip | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Topic-based threading | ✓ | — |
| Streams | ✓ | — |
| Markdown support | ✓ | — |
| File sharing | ✓ | — |
| Self-hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | — |
| API | ✓ | — |
| Search | ✓ | — |
| Bots | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | ✓ | — |
| End-to-end encryption | — | ✓ |
| Voice & video calls | — | ✓ |
| Bridges | — | ✓ |
| Spaces | — | ✓ |
| Threads | — | ✓ |
| Federation | — | ✓ |
| SSO | — | ✓ |
| Widgets | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4 | ⭐ 3.9 |
Pros & Cons
Zulip
Pros
- ✓ Unique threading model
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Free self-hosted
- ✓ Good for async
Cons
- ✗ Unfamiliar UI
- ✗ Smaller community
- ✗ Learning curve
- ✗ Fewer integrations
Element
Pros
- ✓ End-to-end encrypted
- ✓ Open protocol
- ✓ Bridges to other apps
- ✓ Self-hostable
Cons
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Smaller user base
- ✗ UI needs work
- ✗ Performance issues
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Zulip if: You need teams needing organized, threaded conversations. Zulip excels with its unique threading model and open source.
Choose Element if: You need privacy-focused organizations. Element stands out with its end-to-end encrypted and open protocol.
Best free option: Both Zulip and Element offer free tiers. Zulip offers "Free (self-hosted or cloud)" while Element offers "Free (self-hosted or matrix.org)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zulip better than Element?
It depends on your needs. Zulip is better for teams needing organized, threaded conversations, while Element is better for privacy-focused organizations. Both are excellent tools rated 4 and 3.9 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Zulip or Element?
Zulip starts at $6.67/user/mo while Element starts at $5/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Zulip to Element?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Element's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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